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在线翻译:
szdaily -> Movies -> 
Women Who Flirt
    2014-12-05  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

    Starring: Zhou Xun, Huang Xiaoming, Sonia Sui, Evonne Tse Director: Ho-Cheung Pang

    “Women Who Flirt” is an eye-opening,

    entertaining, but confused romantic comedy.

    Kevin McGeary

    mcgeary@gmail.com

    I WAS once told that, for an expatriate who wants to learn about China, the worst thing you can do is learn the language well. The reason, I was told, is that it is more important to listen to what people don’t say than what they do say. “Women Who Flirt,” the latest romantic comedy from director Ho-Cheung Pang, is not so much about romance or dating but about the mastery of unspoken communication, particularly passive-aggression (主动的被动).

    Hong Kong-based director Pang made his mainland debut with another romantic comedy “Love in the Buff” in 2012. From a commercial point of view, it makes sense that he would choose this genre as there is huge demand on the mainland. But aside from commercial concerns, many of mainland films made this year that have striven for profundity have fallen flat while some romantic comedies have been packed with social and historical insight, whether intentionally or not.

    “Coming Home” directed by Zhang Yimou ended up spilling over from seriousness into tedious glumness. “The Continent” directed by Han Han contains most of the elements of a film that has something to say — including a cameo by the accomplished director Jia Zhangke — but proved unsatisfying, like the living room of a nouveau riche who owns a bunch of expensive items of furniture but has no idea how to lay them out attractively.

    By contrast, “My Old Classmate,” directed by Frant Gwo and starring Zhou Dongyu, is a romantic comedy whose backdrop is the recent history of the country, similar to “Forrest Gump.” It captured, in an understated way, why Hollywood-style happy endings rarely happen in today’s China. “One Night Surprise,” directed by Eva Jin and starring Fan Bingbing, shined a fascinating light on attitudes about single women who get pregnant and the difficulties they face with having both a baby and a career.

    “Women Who Flirt,” though more nakedly commercial than “Love in the Buff” and lacking the depth of Pang’s best work, is an eye-opening story of dating and gender roles in China today. It follows tomboy Zhang Hui (Zhou Xun) who has been in love with her underprivileged, career-driven friend Xiao Gong since college. Though he has insisted on staying single while establishing himself professionally, Xiao Gong gets cuckolded by Taiwanese temptress Beibei (Sonia Sui) during a business trip. To win her man, Zhang Hui enlists the help of some of her pick-up artist friends, led by fellow classmate Sie Yilin, in an unfriendly cross-straits competition.

    In one early scene, Beibei delivers a masterpiece act of passive-aggression and what is known in Chinese as sajiao (撒娇). The movie’s title translates the word as “flirting,” but that doesn’t do justice to its excessively effeminate connotations. Sonia Sui’s acting in this scene perfectly captures the film’s spirit — women showing strength by appearing weak. Early on, Xiao Gong observes that men go to the gym to build shoulders for such women to cry on.

    There are lots of highlights, such as homages to “Ghost” and “There’s Something about Mary” and a cameo from Michael Gralapp, who seems to be cornering the market for over-the-top foreigners in mainland movies. However, the idea behind the film is not entirely good-natured. Pang appears to be aware of how misogynistic Chinese society is, but encourages women to accept this reality instead of trying to change it.

    The message that this movie unintentionally sends out is that to be single is a failure and that women should measure their worth by their ability to attract men. However, the message that the film intentionally sends out, as represented by the differences between heroine Zhang Hui and villainess Beibei, is that love is not a competition. I think we can all agree with that.

    The movie is now being screened in Shenzhen.

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Shenzhen Daily E-mail:szdaily@szszd.com.cn